Magnesium is one of the most powerful minerals for relaxation of the mind AND body. Due to our SAD (Standard American Diet) at least half of Americans lack this vital nutrient.

The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are very straightforward. Anything stiff, crampy and irritable, may possibly be just a part of your body function or often it may be a symptom of magnesium deficiency.

The tissues of muscles, bones and brain have Magnesium in them. It supports the reactions of many enzymes. It helps the tissues produce energy for many chemical reactions taking place thus helping the muscles and mind to relax.

There are more than three thousand medical conditions due to deficient magnesium in the body. A diet of nuts, green vegetables, seaweed and beans- which are natural supplements of magnesium- are scarcely taken by people thus causing a deficiency of this valuable mineral. Magnesium is so powerful it is used in some hospitals for emergencies like seizures and heart failure.

Following are certain symptoms which indicate magnesium deficiency:

Chronic fatigue

Kidney stones

Diabetes

Obesity

Osteoporosis

High blood pressure

PMS

Menstrual cramps

Muscle cramps

Irritable bladder

Irritable bowel syndrome

Reflux

Asthma

Trouble swallowing

Fibromyalgia

Headaches

Migraines

Constipation

Angina

Palpitations

ADD

Autism

Muscle cramps or twitches

Insomnia

Irritability

Sensitivity to loud noises

Anxiety

The lack of magnesium is too common in our social environment. If detected by conservative methods of diagnoses (magnesium levels of blood or serum) about 65% of people with health issues taking treatment are deficient in magnesium.

The magnesium deficiency in our society may be even higher because testing one drop of blood or serum may not necessarily give the correct diagnoses. As always, I determine needs by symptoms as much or more than tests due to their unreliability and, the fact they are a “flash in time”.

Most of us have a diet deficient in magnesium- our highly processed foods made of refined flour as well as commercial meat and dairy products contain little magnesium.

In addition, our hectic and stressed lifestyle is another cause of depletion of Magnesium.

Another very important factor for depleting magnesium in our daily diet is our consumption of excess alcohol, bleached table salt, coffee, and soda (phosphoric acid in colas).

Other causes of depletion are:

Antibiotics and some other medicines

Parasites

Chronic diarrhea or excessive enemas

heavy menstruation

diuretics

prolonged stress

The lack of a proper diet causes a shortage of vitamin B6, vitamin D and selenium etc which are necessary to help absorb Magnesium into our cells and tissues

Magnesium is inexpensive and low toxicity. But the deficiency results in many health issues. The situation is far too common in our society and rarely mentioned or checked in a Dr’s office.

Some possible solutions for avoiding a Magnesium deficiency:

Practice active relaxation.

Research to see if your medication is causing magnesium loss in your body. Many high blood pressure drugs or diuretics are known to cause loss of magnesium.

A good way to get additional Magnesium in your body is through supplementation.

There are great potential benefits to supplementing with Magnesium with few side effects. If a person adds “too much-too fast” they may experience diarrhea. In that case, you may want to try using magnesium glycinate which can minimize the chance of an “explosion”.

My favorite Magnesium supplement is a better utilized form of Magnesium call L-Threonate Magtein from Source Naturals. It’s the one I use due to price and quality but there are many good companies that produce Magnesium L-Threonate from Magtein™:

Preliminary research suggests that magtein may provide more magnesium to the brain than other forms of magnesium.

Magtein was shown in preclinical studies to support healthy brain synapse density in regions of the brain associated with memory

There are several good companies that produce Magnesium L-Threonate Magtein

Magnesium can also be absorbed externally by taking Epsom salts in a warm bath and, once again, ease into the amount you use-starting with perhaps ¼ to ½ cup in the bath at first so your body can adjust. Epsom salts can be found at your local pharmacy, Target or Walmart or even many grocery stores. I like to add Lavender or Frankincense Essential oils to the Epsom salts prior to adding them to the bath for a soothing and relaxing bath while absorbing the magnesium from the Epsom salts. By adding oils to the salts prior to adding them to the water to prevent the oils pooling on top the water.

As a reminder, like all supplements and diet changes, magnesium should be taken under doctor’s guidance by kidney and heart patients.

Magnesium is often overlooked as a potential cause of a myriad of health conditions. Prior to using any medication, consider whether magnesium might be a help. You have little to lose by giving it a try and potentially much to gain.

NATURAL COOKING

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Any information shared or presented is NOT meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and is intended for educational purposes only. Nor are the products which are discussed and / or presented in them meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease; they have NOT been evaluated by the FDA. Please seek advice from a health care professional knowledgeable in your area of concern.